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The Dell Community has contributed: 9800 ideas | promoted 668562 times | 76318 comments

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118103

Have Firefox pre-installed as default browser

Software submitted by robinjfisher 02/19/07 **REVIEWED**

Does what it says on the tin! Most people only use IE because they aren't aware of other browsers - they think Internet Explorer is the Internet! What would really drive take up of alternative browsers is if Firefox was pre-installed as the default browser so that when people look for the "Internet" in Windows, they are using FF.
Firefox advocates at Dell have initiated discussions and driven action around exploring alternative internet browsers and experiences. As you can tell from our response to the Linux community, open source continues to be a part of our conversations about new products and services.





1199 Comments »

21640

Make Linux and no Operating system standard options on all future products

Operating Systems submitted by jervis961 08/17/07 **REVIEWED**

OK Dell you have committed to supplying Linux options in limited form. Since you have laid the groundwork already here is the next step. Every new product you release that needs an Operating system should have Linux and also no Operating System as an option in the configuration along side Windows. Since you have to write drivers and test compatability for Vista when making a new product just make it compatable with Linux at the same time. There will no longer be a need for a seperate sections for Linux or no Operating system since all of the products will have the option. this will help make your site easier to navigate for you customers. You can also create an ACCURATE help me choose section for the OS choices.





Check out what daniel_j has to say on the options we offer.





189 Comments »

19640

Stop Overcharging on Notebook RAM

Sales Strategies, Laptops submitted by realskript 08/28/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Dell really... REALLY need to stop overcharging... and when i say overcharing... i mean atleast double what you would pay to pick up the ram yourself.
On XPS Notebooks... you are charging $500 for 4GB of ram... when you could easily go pick them up at your local computer shop for $250... and pocket the other half of the $500...

It would be nice if dell could save the customers as well as the company itself this hassle.. and start charging NORMAL prices for an upgrade in RAM.

thanks =D

PS..... PROMOTE THIS!!!!











88 Comments »

140619

Pre-Installed OpenOffice | alternative to MS Works & MS Office

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by dhart 02/17/07


Provide OpenOffice.org for free pre-installation alongside Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is more capable than Microsoft Works, and a serious competitor to Microsoft Office, at a fraction of the cost (it's free!)

OpenOffice.org can open, create, edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

Provide as OPTIONS for pre-installation many other high-quality free software programs such as:
- Firefox: web browser with popup and privacy controls; say goodbye to Internet Explorer infections!
- Thunderbird: email program with free anti-spam and privacy controls
- Pidgin: instant messaging all-in-one program for popup-free MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others
&nsbp;[ed: GAIM was renamed Pidgin in April 2007 to settle the issue with AOL's trademark on AIM]
- PDFCreator: creates Adobe PDF files from any program
- Scribus, Inkscape & GIMP: desktop publishing, freehand drawing & powerful image editing
- Audacity & VLC: multi-track audio editing & universal all-in-one media/video/movie/DVD player
- Stellarium & Celestia: planetarium viewer & outer-space mapping, like Google Earth, but for our Solar System

Pre-installed quality free and open source software drastically lowers the cost of new PCs, and helps prevent software piracy. Cast your vote for Linux and other free software. Cast your vote for the Universal Education PC [ed: article removed/merged by dell_admin] utilizing free software.

CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged! Cast your vote for consumer CHOICE and public transparency at Dell.
574 Comments »

24470

There should be an option of having no trialware on all computers

Software submitted by jervis961 08/23/07 **REVIEWED**

Here is a news article about trialware and how Dell feels that regular customers want it but small business ones do. Do they not look at the ideas here?

"Not interested in all of the trial software that clutters up new PCs? You're not alone: According to Dell's recent research in both focus groups and broader surveys, small-business users overwhelmingly view trialware as an irritant, not a benefit. That research has led Dell to axe the extras from its new Vostro line of small-business desktop PCs and laptops. Eliminating demo applications is a major step for Dell, which has caught flack for the quantity of trialware on its consumer PCs. (One frustrated customer went so far as to develop a "Decrapifier" utility. The company says that consumers who buy PCs for personal use do express interest in preloaded trial software, but that small-business users have different needs. By eliminating the trialware from Vostro machines, Dell says it has cut the system setup time in half. For now, Dell is the only major PC manufacturer to ship small-business systems without preinstalled trialware as a standard practice. (Some competitors, such as HP, allow customers to choose a no-trialware configuration.)"


Dell offers a broad amount of software choice and minimal software shipped. Read jeremy_f's post on the options we give our customers





149 Comments »

26770

Put Ubuntu on the list of operating systems when building a PC!

Linux, Sales Strategies, Desktops and Laptops submitted by samb0057 08/10/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Ubuntu is hidden in a dark corner of the website. I work in IT support, and I have a client who was having virus problems a little while ago. I fixed the problem by installing Ubuntu on their PC. Very recently they called me asking for advice on a new computer, I told them about your new offer providing Ubuntu pre-installed on PCs and they wanted to purchase, but could not find the section on your site (this person is a very basic user, doesn't know what open-source means, probably didn't even see the open source link). There is no way they would have found your Ubuntu section on their own.

I urge you to offer Ubuntu as a choice of OSes in the system configuration wizard, the only way to really sell Ubuntu is to offer Ubuntu as a primary option, rather than a hidden alternative. I personally am looking to buy a new laptop, and you guys have always been my number 1 PC manufacturer (I don't think I've ever bought a new retail PC except from you guys), but I feel that your Ubuntu offerings are lacking. If you offered Ubuntu on some of the great deals you offer on your home page, I would be willing to pay just as much as I would for a Windows Vista system and I probably would have already ordered.







158 Comments »

28130

Standardize Power Cables for Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by badblood 08/27/07 **UNDER REVIEW**

Nothing is more annoying than laptop power cables that are not interchangeable from one computer model to another or from one brand of computer to another. Power cables have been standardized on most electrical applicances, including desktop computers for decades.

Make an effort to promote and implement standard power cables for laptops.


Please see dawn_l's comments below.
105 Comments »

1950

All 64 Bit PC's

Desktops submitted by class2008 05/25/07

Dell should begin producing all 64 bit pc's. WIth rumors of Windows Vista being the last OS available in 32 bit, they should get consumers ready with 64 bit pc's, at reasonable prices. 50 Comments »

140

A5 sized notebook computer

Broadband and Mobility, Laptops submitted by layzer Apr 20

In the battle for mobility everyone is trying to make an ultra-thin notebook - however there are few choices for smaller footprint notebooks which are A5 sized (as big as a hardcover book). I think this would be an excellent form factor for mobility and usability. The rise of the Windows Mobile PDA should support this need - if people are trying to do emails and even spreadsheets on a PDA then an A5 sized device is not too small! 2 Comments »

-20

Bundle Splashtop to Dell Laptop/Desktop

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by fjordan Apr 21

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Dell bundles Splashtop Instant-on/Instant-off OS to its laptop/desktop offerings?

Aren't most of you feel the pain of having to wait forever for Windows to boot-up or shutdown or even going in/out of hibernation?
Given that most of us (90%+) are web surfers, skype, messenger users and media playback, believe Splashtop can take care these exact needs ... It would be lame if Dell don't pursue this aggressively to take back the No.1 spot that's taken by HP recently...

Honestly speaking, I never liked HP laptop/desktop design, no matter how many awards they have won recently... okay, it's fair to say that Dell is like consumer car and Mac is the more luxury ones, but we all deserve as speed/fastness... believe there are many souls out there longing for an instant-on/off type of env that we can do mostly what can do...

let's pitch Dell on this... 2 Comments »

90

Adjust registration to allow minors to sign up --with parent/guardian permission

IdeaStorm submitted by mkmaster78 Apr 21

Recently there have been several issues with the Terms of Use (TOU) and its requirement of participants to be age 18 or older (as the TOU represents a legal contract). Without changing the TOU, it would be easy to add a little form to the registration page to enable parents/guardians to give their consent by adding and confirming their email. Several sites have employed this, GeoCities coming to mind as it is one I had to that with when I was younger. This is a minor change that could these resourceful minors participate in the responsible and useful manner that they have done so to this date.
Note: Created this as prompted by phubert.
Note: Hopefully, Dell will consider reinstating the accounts of those whose accounts have been revoked because of this issue, once this has been resolved. 7 Comments »

1260

Reward most popular ideas put into action

IdeaStorm submitted by j.bandringa 04/21/07


There's a lot of interesting ideas on IdeaStorm. It’s time to motivate people even more!

Why not give the persons who posted the most popular ideas, put into action at Dell, a free Dell computer of their choice?

205 Comments »



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